Regrettably, few comprehend the difference in dynamics between a kite attached to a relatively moveable object (like a person) and a kite anchored to something fixed, or of substantial inertia (like a boat).

The chance of death or massive injury is in fact far greater suspended 100 feet up by a kite while tethered to something on the surface than it is while kite-dangling in free flight at 10,000 feet (which is also a very bad idea without a purpose-built/modified kite/glider).

A kite which generates 100 pounds of force (tension) when flown steadily in specific conditions can actually generate about 5,000 pounds* of force if maneuvered aggressively while anchored... if something doesn't break first. And it will, which is the point.

*Current generation kites have lift/drag ratios (and interchangeably, glide ratios) of 7:1, give or take (most between 6:1 and 8:1, I think). During a loop or other maneuver, a 7:1-l/d-ratio-kite flying across the center of the power zone (window), directly perpendicular to the true wind direction, advances at seven times the rate it "sinks" (laterally) through the air. If this isn't intuitive, a quick overhead-view vector diagram should make it clear. Because lift is a squared function of airspeed, such a kite can generate about 49 times as much force as when "parked".

Last edited by JS on Wed Oct 23, 2013 6:39 pm, edited 1 time in total.

... well, there was that time 11 years ago when a very experienced kiter towed to twice that height, 150 ft., behind a waverunner. There have been lots of other attempts since that time. The guy in 2002 was lucky not to have been killed but got off with lung damage, aspirating blood and some serious pain for a while. Tying the kiter or more accurately "tow dummy" to the tow line too? Lockout city, if you ignore history and past screwups you will definitely be doomed to repeat them in time.

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